Dromagh Castle will be the venue for a programme of music,ceremony and talk organised by O'Keeffe clan chieftain GerardO'Keeffe, a Kanturk-based solicitor.

The event will focus on the painter whose paternal roots arebelieved to be in the Nadd area.

Georgia O'Keeffe was born in Wisconsin in 1887, raised inVirginia and trained in Chicago and New York, but she istypically associated with the US south-west and particularly NewMexico, where she settled. She is known for her paintings inwhich she synthesises abstraction and representation in herpaintings of flowers, rocks and landscapes. She died in 1986.

Mr O'Keeffe said he first became acquainted with her work back inthe mid-1980s through a book given to him by his friend, the lateMichael O'Leary, the former Tanaiste.

A pair of hands in bronze by sculpture Paula O'Sullivan,commissioned by Mr O'Keeffe and dedicated to Mr O'Leary, will beunveiled at tomorrow's ceremony (5pm to 8pm) by Judge MichaelPattwell.

The sculpture will later go on permanent display in anantiquarian bookshop that Mr O'Keeffe plans to open in Killarney.

Kanturk author John Dillon will officially open the event andthere will also be an address by Mr O'Keeffe. Musician LiamO'Connor, singer Cahir O'Doherty and pupils from St Brendan'snational school, Dromtarriffe, will provide entertainment.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has confirmed the Irish Republicwill hold a general election on 24 May.

Mr Ahern had kept his own Fianna Fail and oppositionparties guessing, but went to seek the formal dissolutionof the Dail from President Mary McAleese.

Recent opinion polls have suggested a very tight outcome,with no clear lead for any party or coalition group.

The election could be held no later than June, andunofficial campaigning has been in full swing in recentweeks.

Mr Ahern visited President McAleese's official residenceAras an Uachtarain at 0800 BST, hours before she was due toleave for a five-day visit to the US.

"President McAleese has dissolved the 29th Dail(parliament) this morning," her office said in a statement.

In power since 1997, Mr Ahern is seeking a third term inoffice.

Opinion polls have suggested a close race between MrAhern's Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalitionpartnership and an alternative partnership of Fine Gael andLabour with possible Green participation.

Sinn Fein is also among the parties hoping to increase itspresence in parliament.

The Irish Republic uses the Proportional Representation -Single Transferable Vote system, by which voters in multi-seat constituencies (electing three, four or five deputieseach) are asked to rank their candidate preferences on aballot paper.

If no one party secures enough seats to form a single partygovernment, a coalition between parties is needed.

The Dail is made up of 166 members representing 41constituencies.

Story from BBC NEWS:Published: 2007/04/29 09:44:49 GMTc BBC MMVII----

Mr Ahern is fighting to be re-elected for a third termwhich would make him the most successful Taoiseach sinceEamon de Valera.

"In the weeks ahead I pledge to give the Irish people thecampaign they deserve: a campaign of issues and policies,not insults and attacks," he said.

"I am more interested in attacking problems than attackingpeople."

The Fianna F il leader took the country by surprise thismorning with most politicians and observers believing hewould call the election during the week.

But an official trip to the United States by PresidentMcAleese, leaving Dublin this morning, meant he would haveto wait another week if the 29th D il was not dissolvedover the weekend.

"This election is about Ireland's future, protecting theprogress we have made over the last ten years and buildingon it," Mr Ahern said.----

The only party combination at this stage which appears tohave been ruled out by all the main parties is oneinvolving Gerry Adams' Sinn Fein party, which polls suggestcould take about 10 per cent of the vote. But commentatorssay in highlighting the outgoing government's achievementsin Northern Ireland, Mr Ahern is in danger of giving a legup to Sinn Fein too, at a time when Fianna Fail iscompeting with Sinn Fein in several urban constituenciesfor the republican, working class vote.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams speaking in Belfast thismorning said "Sinn Fein is going into this electioncampaign in a stronger position than every before. Overthe next four weeks we will be campaigning the length andbreadth of the country seeking a mandate for real changeand equality. Our objective is to be in government, northand south and to deliver strong public services and toadvance the peace process and preparations for Irishunity.'

Mr. Adams said:

"Sinn Fein is going into this election campaign in astronger position than every before. We are standing in 41constituencies and our objective is to be in government,north and south.

"We believe in the right to universal access to decenthealthcare, education and childcare, we believe in theconstitutional right to a home, we believe in building theeconomy and using the wealth created for the public good.We believe in Irish re-unification and are advancingpreparations to bring this about as soon as possible. Theseare our priorities for government.

"Over the past decade, republicans have proven our abilitynot just to negotiate successfully to advance the peaceprocess but also to show leadership by taking major andsometimes difficult decisions in the national interest.Dramatic progress has been made. Sinn Fein and the DUP aregoing to head the power-sharing government in the north andSinn Fein's five Government Ministers will work hard in theinterests of everyone on this island. We are aboutdelivering for Ireland's future.

"Sinn Fein is ready for government, north and south. Overthe next four weeks we will be campaigning the length andbreadth of the country seeking a mandate for real changeand equality. "ENDS

A LEADERSHIP statement from the UVF and Red Hand Commandowill be issued this week, soon after Tuesday's talksinvolving the PUP and Peter Hain.

It's expected that the announcement on the future of theterror group will be made on Wednesday or Thursday as partof the build-up to the May 8 devolution date. Finalpreparations - including discussions on wording - arecontinuing at the level of the loyalist leadership.

There is no prospect of early decommissioning, althoughthat does not rule out the possibility of some discussionswith the IMC.

The UVF had planned to tell the IMC of its decision on theweapons issue, but some wider dialogue is now possible.

In its statement, the paramilitary leadership plans toconvey the message that its weapons have been put away,never to be used again.

But Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is insisting that theissue is dealt with through "proper channels", which meansde Chastelain.

"We genuinely don't know how the last lot (IRAdecommissioning) was done," a senior security source said.

But he stressed the importance of de Chastelain's role: "Ifit's not done that way, we (the police) will still be goingafter it, and if we find it, they (the UVF) have aproblem."

Yesterday, she met the former president of the MethodistChurch, Harold Good, one of two witnesses to IRAdecommissioning in 2005.

The PUP has also spoken to the former Presbyterianmoderator, Ken Newell.

On the planned loyalist statement, he told Sunday Life:"The intention is sincere, the determination is strong, butthe challenge to deliver is immense.

"It will take time, but cannot be given too much moretime."

While the focus is on the weapons question, this plannedstatement from the UVF and Red Hand leaderships will be setin a much wider context.

It will declare the future of those organisations and statepositions on a range of activities.

And, within days, the worth of this loyalist initiativewill have been judged in the political, security and publicarenas.

ANALYSIS - By Brian Rowan

ON BIG statements like this, you'll usually find thesignature of Captain William Johnston, the UVF's equivalentto the IRA's 'P O'Neill'.

It's the paramilitary way of doing things - of putting theleadership's stamp of authority on the orders that havejust been given.

The instructions the UVF and Red Hand leaderships will givein the coming week will be the most important since theoriginal ceasefire of 1994 - the ceasefire that wasdeclared in the name of the Combined Loyalist MilitaryCommand.

So, in that context, this statement will be of considerablesignificance.

Yes, there will be a flaw in it, the decision or mistakenot to decommission. But those who know about these thingswill tell you it couldn't be delivered; that it's not onthe radar screen and it won't be on the radar screen.

That suggests that any talking with de Chastelain - atleast in the here and now - will be going through themotions.

And, so, there is a responsibility on the part of theloyalist leadership to be absolutely clear about itsintentions.

How will it- how can it? - guarantee that these weapons,with all the killing and all the blood that is attached tothem, will never be used again?

And what if any of those weapons are discovered by thepolice and a UVF label put on them? Where then does thatleave this loyalist initiative?

The weapons issue is the big question that will emerge fromwhatever is said this week. But that question can only beone part of the debate.

If the UVF and Red Hand leaderships genuinely intend tomarch their war threat off the stage, then that is an orderof some significance.

This must be said and demonstrated in a manner that isconvincing.

There has been much that has been dark, and, now, there isa need for new light - for bright words and meanings thatare about making a genuine contribution to the new politicsof this place. The weapons issue will be the unfinishedbusiness when this statement emerges in a few days time.

But let's look to see if the other words are directing amarch away from war and towards the new peace. Can the UVFand Red Hand convince us?

VICTIMS campaigner Raymond McCord last night hit out atwhat he claimed was MEP Jim Allister's "head in the sandattitude" towards collusion between police and loyalistparamilitaries.

McCord met the former DUP man in Strasbourg last weekduring a trip to the European Parliament to win support forhis campaign to expose his son Raymond jnr's killers andthe cops who allowed them to get away with murder.

But following the meeting, Mr Allister claimed that MrMcCord's trip to the European Parliament was being used bySinn Fein to "peddle their vindictive vendetta against thepolice".

Said Mr McCord: "Sinn Fein are not using me or manipulatingme and at the Press conference the words concerning myson's murder and Nuala O'Loan's report came from me.

"They have given me a platform, but it's a platform forRaymond McCord to talk about the Police Ombudsman's reportand my son's murder."

When he returns to Ulster he has arranged to meet with MrAllister's former DUP colleagues, justice spokesman IanPaisley jnr and North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds, in whoseconstituency most of the murders carried out by the UVFgang that killed Raymond McCord jnr took place.

THE devastated family of innocent loyalist feud victimCraig McCausland now believe his killers will never bebrought to justice.

Speaking ahead of the UVF's expected announcement on theterror group's future, Nicola McIlvenny told how victims'families were being left behind.

Although the 21-year-old murder victim's cousin hadremained hopeful of justice since his killing on July 11,2005, she fears the godfather who ordered the killing andthe gunmen will never be brought before the courts.

She also told how she had created a profile of Craig on thepopular Bebo website in a bid to keep his memory alive.

Said Ms McIlvenny: "We are no further on to be honest andit just seems as if nobody wants to listen.

"The police know who the gunmen were, but they have notbeen able to do anything about it. We were hopeful at thebeginning, but as each day goes by we are becoming more andmore isolated.

"We know the UVF leader in Woodvale ordered the killing andhe is still working in the area as if nothing happened. Wewill never know why they targeted Craig because he was atotally innocent victim."

Craig's partner, Kathy Gibson, also told how his son Deanwas still traumatised by the shooting of his dad.

"Craig's murder totally destroyed us and my children arestill traumatised by what happened that night," she said."Every time I close my eyes I am taken back to that nightwhen these gunmen smashed their way into my home and shotCraig five times.

"We will never get over this and I just have to be here tosupport my children and to remind Craig's son, Dean, whathis father was like."

CONVICTED UDA blackmailer Eddie Sayers first lost his shirt- now he has lost his house.

For a bank has seized the former terror boss's home inLarne over a five-year debt.

Earlier this month the Ulster Bank was granted a possessionorder for the house at Forest Lodge in the Co Antrim town.

It had won a High Court order against Sayer's defaulting onthe mortgage for the property as far back as October 2002.

It's the latest blow for the loyalist crook after he wasdeclared bankrupt last November following a petition by HMRevenue and Customs over an unpaid tax bill.

And his financial woes relating to his properties do notend there.

According to High Court records, at least one other lenderhas an outstanding legal action against Sayers and his wifeGladys over the same property.

The AIB lodged papers with the High Court in October 2004,in a case that is still active. And yet another mortgagelender has an ongoing legal action against Mrs Sayers fordefaulting on a mortgage on a property in north Belfast.

And another lender has an action against her in relation tothe mortgage on a property in Omagh.

Papers held at the Enforcement of Judgements Office and theHigh Court link the couple to no fewer than sevenproperties.

Sayers was jailed for 10 years in the 1980s after beingexposed as a UDA extortionist by undercover journalists.

While he was banged up in the Maze, Sayers studied to be alegal clerk.

When he was released from prison he secured work with alegal firm that subsequently went bust.

Taylor & Co, which had former UFF godfather JohnnyAdair among its clients, was shut by the Law Society aftercomplaints that clients' money had gone missing.

CONVICTED terrorists are set to have their criminal recordswiped when it comes to job applications.

NIO minister David Hanson is expected to announceemployment legislation changes on Wednesday which willprevent employers from lawfully refusing to considerconvicted paramilitaries for jobs on security grounds.

It is expected the changes will apply to the public andprivate sectors - but not be the security sector.

Hanson's move is designed to assist loyalist paramilitariesin particular, part of a package of sweeteners from theGovernment to get terrorists to abandon criminality.

Hanson's announcement will come just days before the UVF isexpected to announce its intention to cease allparamilitary activities.

But the terrorists group will not indicate when it willengage in a weapons decommissioning process.

In recent days PUP leader Dawn Purvis has briefed partieshere on the intentions of the UVF and answered questionsabout the organisation's future role.

It's understood she confirmed that the UVF move would notbe dependent upon other developments, although there was noindication from her when the decommissioning of theorganisation's weapons might occur.

PETER Hain has refused to confirm or deny the existence ofMI5 spy tapes at the Maze during the period leading toBilly Wright's 1997 jail murder.

The Secretary of State referred to ministerial conventionon security matters as he stonewalled a written question byDUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson concerning claims that LVF andINLA inmates conversations were bugged at the jail.

Mr Donaldson MP wrote to Mr Hain asking whether he couldmake available to the Billy Wright Inquiry surveillancetapes held by the security and intelligence services ofconversations that took place in H Block 6 during theperiod leading up to the LVF chief's murder by INLAinmates.

The soldiers also claimed transcripts of all surveillancetapes were given to RUC Special Branch on a regular basis.

In his written response to Mr Donaldson, the Secretary ofState said that by convention he could neither confirm nordeny the existence of the material.

Mr Donaldson said he was deeply disappointed with theSecretary of State's response.

The Lagan Valley MP added that Mr Hain had failed to co-operate in any way in providing any of the material thathad been requested.

Mr Donaldson said the Secretary of Sate had also refused toexplain why the Northern Ireland Prison Service haddestroyed certain files relevant to Judge Peter Cory'sinvestigation into Billy Wright's murder without firstinforming the judge of their destruction.

The Billy Wright Inquiry is due to begin full publichearings at Banbridge Courthouse in May.

THE Policing Board will this week consider a demand for anindependent investigat- ion into Chief Constable Sir HughOrde's expenses.

Sunday Life revealed last week that DUP Assemblyman JimmySpratt had written to the Board's Chief Executive TrevorReaney calling for an inquiry to be carried out by a"totally independent person".

Mr Spratt, a former leader of the Police Federation,revealed on Friday that he had received a reply from MrReaney saying his call for an investigation into Sir Hugh'sexpenses would be put before the Board at its next meeting.

That takes place on Wednesday at the Waterside Tower,Belfast.

Mr Spratt told Sunday Life: "I hope the Board will acceptmy call for an inquiry into Sir Hugh's expenses which Ibelieve are excessive compared to other chief constables.

"I hope the Board will appoint someone who is trulyindependent and don't just roll over and accept someonefrom within the policing system."

The South Belfast MLA added that he had consented for asecond demand in his letter - for a "total breakdown" ofall Sir Hugh's claimed expenses over the last five years -to be dealt with by the PSNI.

Mr Spratt's call for an inquiry followed disclosuresearlier this year that Sir Hugh has a mistress and child inthe south of England, and has taken part in numerousmarathons and fun runs with his lover.

Even before Mr Spratt's demand, Sir Hugh Orde had takensteps to have his expenses scrutinised, the PSNI stating:"The Chief Constable has asked an individual to look at allof his travel and accommodation over the last three years."

A firefighter has sustained a facial injury during a pelletgun attack on a crew in north Belfast.

It happened in Alliance Avenue after the Fire and RescueService was called to put out a fire in a bin just after2100 BST on Saturday.

The officers were attacked by a group of teenagers, one ofwhom fired a pellet gun. The injured officer was notseriously hurt.

A senior officer said the potential for serious injury was"apparent".

The area commander for Belfast said: "It is sad thatfirefighters who experience so much danger in their normalduties are subjected to such a serious attack.

"However, I am reassured by help and assistance given to usby elected representatives from the area, to ensure suchattacks do not occur in the future."

Sinn Fein councillor Margaret McClenaghan condemned theattack. "Attacks on the Fire and Rescue Service arecompletely and utterly wrong," she said. "This isn't amatter of fun. It's a matter of life and death."

Sinn Fein Councillor Christy Burke has described the attackon Sinn Fein in today's Sunday World as complete andabsolute unsubstantiated rubbish.

Councillor Burke said:

"For more than 20 years myself and Sinn Fein members rightacross this city have stood with local communities in thefight against drug dealers, and criminals such as ChristyGriffin. I find it deeply offensive that week after weekunsubstantiated rubbish is printed in the Sunday World andthen repeated as if it is fact. Sinn Fein does not and hasnever sought or taken one cent from Christy Griffin or anyother criminal. Their despicable activities are destroyingthe very communities that we are working in.

"People in working class areas across Dublin know ourrecord and know the truth."ENDS

A CO Down businessman has hit out at vicious rumours thathe carried out a HANNIBAL LECTER-style attack on the son ofa top Sinn Fein man.

Outspoken Bartley Murphy from Downpatrick protested hisinnocence about rumours he sank his teeth into the nose ofa son of Eamonn Mac Con Midhe.

The pub owner admitted there was a disturbance on a streetat the rear of his bar, Hogans, two weeks ago, but said hewas outraged at rumours that he attacked the Sinn Feinman's son and a number of other young people.

Cops are now probing the incident and have taken a numberof statements from witnesses.

Mr Murphy offered to meet the councillor to put the recordstraight. He said: "I was just responding to a telephonecall that a window had been smashed in my bar. I then wentto the back of the bar and that's when my vehicle wasattacked. I didn't bite anyone. This is just a viciousrumour.

"I didn't touch Eamonn's son and I have nothing against theman or his family. It's great to see him going to thepolice - it's a pity he couldn't have done this 10 yearsago."

"I have the footage to prove I was just defending myproperty. I am sick to death of people violating myproperty and I am confident I will be vindicated in thiscase. I have given the footage to the police, and itclearly shows the offenders in this matter.

"People should get their own house in order before theycriticise or accuse me of attacking people."

A crowd of around 1,000 has heard one of two men who theUDA's Inner Council said it had expelled from theorganisation send a defiant message to his former comrades.

Newtownabbey councillor Tommy Kirkham told a crowd atQueen's Park in Glengormley on Friday night that he wouldnot be coerced by the British and Irish Governments tobecome Irish overnight.

"South East Antrim stands alone, but by standing alone wecan decide our own destiny and our own way forward," hesaid.

At the loyalist event to mark the 13th anniversary of theINLA killing of UDA man Gerry Evans, Kirkham said he wasbeing reviled by his former comrades because he couldn't bebought.

"What is it that I have that they all fear? Is it the factthat I cannot be bought, is it the fact that I still have alove for my country and the organisation I represent. Orare we just a piece of everyone else's conscience."

Kirkham said that for nine months he had been vilified andtold that he and others in the area had no support.

He said attempts had been made using the media to stain thecharacters of many loyalists in South East Antrim bylabelling them as gangsters, extortionists and drug dealerswho controlled property portfolios and ran brothels.

"There is criminality within all communities, but in SouthEast Antrim there is no place for loyalist criminals, onlyloyalists. The criminals must be dealt with by the PSNI.

"We said in the past to Sir Hugh Orde, if you pursueloyalists for being loyalists then we will protest at thevery highest level, but if you pursue loyalists forcriminality then you have our full support," he said.

Kirkham said that Protestant areas across Northern Irelandhad been neglected by the Government.

Added Mr Gallagher: "If these people think they can sit insplendid isolation and ignore or fail to show leadership indealing with criminality by merely passing theresponsibility on to the police, they are out of touch withreality.

"An example of this is when the Shoukris had nowhere to go.It was Tommy Kirkham who gave them sanctuary and now thesame gang around these people are robbing Larne. Ourreports on Tommy Kirkham's oration, which was supposed tobe a memorial service for a fallen comrade, was that it waspoliticised and disgraceful.

"A call has gone out to the good members of south eastAntrim from the UDA. Kirkham or anyone else will notthreaten these men.

"The view of the organisation of which this man is nolonger a member is that we cannot allow paramilitarystructures to be left for the use of gangsters andcriminals."

Kirkham reveals death threat

KIRKHAM received a death threat just 24 hours after SundayLife revealed he led a delegation linked to a breakaway UDAgroup to meet the IMC paramilitary watchdog group.

He revealed how police warned him of the threat, which hebelieves is linked to the mainstream UDA.

The South East Antrim politician said: "The police wouldn'tsay how they knew or where the threat came from, but justwarned me to be careful because they had information that aparamilitary organisation wanted to harm me. "

Kirkham added he suspects the intelligence information camefrom within the UDA's Inner Council faction.

Kirkham was one of two men the Inner Council said it had"expelled" from the UDA last month, but the councillor sayshe was not a member of an illegal organisation.

Last week he led a delegation of representatives from eightareas in South East Antrim who told the IMC's full panelthat they wanted help to bring about an end to allparamilitary activities in their area.

The group, which supports the Beyond Conflict initiative todismantle paramilitary structures, said it understood theUDA in South East Antrim was prepared to consider meetingGeneral John de Chastelain to discuss the possibledecommissioning of weapons.

It is believed the group's approach to the IMC angered theUDA's Inner Council, which is led by South BelfastBrigadier Jackie McDonald, and which wants to be the solerepresentative of the entire UDA structure. It successfullyremoved the previous leadership of the UDA's North BelfastBrigade, once controlled by Andre Shoukri, and planned toremove the leadership of the organisation in South EastAntrim and install a new figurehead.

But so far this has been resisted in the area and the UDAremains under the control of the leaders who approved themeeting with the IMC.

The move means that when the next IMC Report is written,there will be a separate chapter created to refer to theUDA in South East Antrim as a separate entity, adevelopment likely to further enrage the Inner Councilfaction.

The IMC's latest report published on Wednesday confirmedreports that UDA members had continued to be involved inacts of violence "at an increased rate" from the beginningof the year.

"The UDA was responsible for a number of shooting incidentsand for the bulk of the loyalist assaults to which werefer," the report said.

"We believe these incidents were largely as a result offriction within the organisation or as a result ofperceived anti-social behaviour".

While the report said there had been some improvement inUDA activity, it concluded that "the pace of movement hadbeen too slow".

Irish connection: After leaving San Diego, Hillary RodhamClinton winged her way to a Saturday evening fundraiser atthe Los Gatos home of Palm senior executive John Hartnettand his wife, Helen. It's part of a series of fundraisershosted by Irish-born Clinton enthusiasts, said Hartnett,himself a native. About 70 guests were expected, both BayArea Irish-Americans and tech leaders.

Hartnett, who has lived in the United States for nineyears, however cannot vote for Clinton, just yet. He isworking on getting his citizenship in time for next year'selection, he said. Long an admirer of the Clintons,Hartnett said hosting the fundraiser "is payback" for theefforts of Bill and Hillary to bring peace to NorthernIreland.

To show his appreciation, Hartnett ordered specialchocolate from Dublin and, he promised, "There will beGuinness in the house."

Peace state: Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, a vocal opponentof the war in Iraq and presidential candidate, was askedhow his message is playing in the Golden State. "You know,anyone who has ever spent time at the beach, why do you goto the beach? It is peaceful. It is calm. Californiansresonate with that principle of peace."

Cameras, action: Two Santa Clara County legislatorsannounced their endorsement of Clinton at Saturday'sconvention. Assemblyman Jim Beall of San Jose andAssemblywoman Sally Lieber of Mountain View signed on intime to be part of a group of 14 legislators

who stood behind Clinton during what had to be the mostheavily covered state convention news conference inhistory. More than 250 reporters, camera operators,videographers and bloggers crammed into the room. "Oh, mygoodness," a surprised Clinton said as she got her firstglimpse of the gargantuan pack.

According to convention planners, some 400 members of themedia were issued credentials for the weekend affair. Theratio of media members to convention delegates: 1-to-4.

AN award-winning Ulster pub is bringing an extra breath offresh air into the lives of ciggie-craving customers as theno smoking ban kicks in.

Reigning Pub of the Year Pier 36 in Donaghadee is set to'dispense' advice to smokers hoping to stub out the habitwith the help of Gordons Chemists.

Pier 36 - perched on the village's picturesque harbour -has teamed up with Gordons in a novel initiative.

The Waterworth family, which owns Pier 36, is swapping itsashtrays for 'how to quit' leaflets, ditching cigarette-vending machines for advice stands and is even planningspecial counselling sessions for its customers.

Said Jody Waterworth: "We see the smoking ban as a verypositive move for everyone involved in our industry.

"But we also saw the need to support our customers who wantto stop smoking with a dedicated, advice-driven campaignwith the support of Gordons, who were delighted to getinvolved."

Added Jody: "We are also planning to introduce a number ofcounselling clinics where we will introduce trainedprofessionals to support our smokers, should they wish toquit, within our own pub environment, complete with tea orcoffee and scones"

Said Gordons' partner and co-founder Neil Gordon: "It isvital that smokers realise they don't have to quit on theirown and that there is support and help readily available attheir local pharmacy.

"This initiative with Pier 36 is, we believe, the firstcampaign of its kind in the UK where a publican and apharmacy will be working together to improve people'slives."----

Publican Paul Ahead Of The Game, And There's An Air OfSatisfaction

WHEN pubs across Ulster become smoke-free zones tomorrow,it will be business as usual for Co Down bar owner PaulKelly.

For Paul - who runs the Quoile Tavern in Downpatrick - hasbeen operating a no smoking policy at the popular pub forthe last year.

And the businessman (left) has told his colleagues in thebar trade not to worry about losing regulars when thesmoking ban comes into force.

Although Paul admitted it was a gamble for him to introducethe no-smoking policy a year ahead of schedule, he knows itwas the right choice.

Said Paul: "I obviously knew about the no smoking policybeing implemented in 2007, but I decided to implement it ayear earlier.

"The general consensus among the staff and the regulars wasto go for it. I just thought I would try it and I haven'tlooked back."

He added: "When I implemented the policy, I got the placedry-cleaned and it took about six months for the smell ofthe smoke to lift.

"Everyone has been very supportive and it has made a realdifference. Smokers can have a cigarette just outside thebar so they have also been kept happy.

"I won't take much notice when the smoking ban comes intoforce, but it will be interesting to see how other barsadopt to it. They shouldn't worry because it's a greatthing for everyone.

"We are upgrading the bar at the minute and the best thingwe ever did was introduce the smoking ban last year."

The bar owner's decision to introduce the smoking ban aheadof schedule has been praised by the Ulster CancerFoundation.

Said a spokeswoman: "Introducing smoke-free policies inpublic places is one of the most effective things that canbe done to encourage smokers to kick the habit. Pauldeserves credit for taking the initiative a year ahead ofschedule."----

It's Gone Swimmingly For The Mermaid Inn

PUB owner Vincent McKenna has every reason to raise a glasstoday - because his new 'extension' measures up to allexpectations.

For it will allow his customers to light up over a pintdespite next week's smoking ban.

And tobacco addicts relaxing in the impressive courtyardconversion will even be able to watch racing on the tellyas they enjoy their fix.

The ban, which is due to come into force across theprovince in just nine days time, prohibits smoking in allenclosed public places, including bars, restaurants,offices and even bus shelters.

But the outdoor extension to the Mermaid Inn at WilsonsCourt in Belfast has passed all planning hurdles withflying colours.

"It was with the planners for almost 18 months so theycertainly had time to consider it," said Vincent.

The popular pub has benefited from a major interiormakeover that also included the removal of the entire frontwall and its replacement with sliding glass doors.

A canopy covers chairs and tables in the beer garden whilethe pub's sliding doors open onto a widescreen TV.

"I'd say that a good 80 to 90pc of my customers aresmokers," said Vincent.

"So the ban could have hit me hard and, indeed, there arefears in the trade that quite a few pubs could go belly-up.

"A lot of my regulars are also gee-gee men, so I've put aspeaker outside which means they can both see and hear theracing while enjoying a drink.

"Even if it gets a bit nippy, we have a couple of patioheaters that can be quickly utilised."

And there could also be light at the end of the smoke-freetunnel for pubs that have no space to erect awnings,extensions or canopies.

For ventilated 'smoking booths' - the size of a telephonekiosk - have been given the green light in some parts ofScotland and publicans are looking into introducing them inlicensed premises here.

The hi-tech booths are transparent to let the smokercontinue to enjoy the atmosphere of a pub or club. Theyhave a choice of music to listen to - and a two-way speakersystem allows puffers to have a conversation with friendsoutside or at least experience the hubbub of othercustomers.

Fumes are sucked up by a ventilations system that carriessmoke directly from the cigarette through a series offilters before returning the cleaned air to the room.

As well as one-person cabins, larger booths for communalsmoking are also available.----

No More Puffing Outside Hospital Entrances

BY SINEAD JOHNSON

SMOKERS will no longer be permitted to light up at hospitalentrances in Belfast, it has been revealed.

Belfast Health & Social Care Trust boss Dr Tony Stevenssays smokers standing at doorways at the Royal, Mater andCity hospitals will be moved on by security staff fromtomorrow.

The trust's medical director said all hospital buildingswill be smoke-free from tomorrow.

However, a complete ban on all hospital sites was"inhumane".

Said Dr Stevens: "We will be asking smokers at entrances tomove on.

"But there will still be areas on the grounds where theycan smoke.

"It can be very distressing for patients and visitorshaving crowds of people standing at entrances and weunderstand that.

"We would very much like people not to smoke on ourpremises at all, but that wouldn't be practical or humane.

"As a care organisation, we want to promote the messagethat smoking is bad for your health, but we can't stoppeople smoking."

THEY said it would never work, yet it has been proven towork in New York, Sydney, Hong Kong and in the south ofIreland.

I refer to the smoking ban, which, from midnight, comes into force across Northern Ireland in all public places.

It may be that I'm becoming a grumpy old man, but I seem toget more and more irritated on evenings out, with my eyes,lungs and throat having to endure other people's smoke.

Many of these people are my mates and I enjoy theircompany, but not their smoke, thank you very much!

I like to wake up in the morning and remember the good timethat was had the night before - not to still sense thesmell of stale smoke on my clothes and in my hair.

If the smell is so pervasive as to make its presence feltin my bedroom the next morning, what does that mean itsdoing to my lungs?

Taking into consideration the fact that we have one of thehighest rates of cardiovascular and respiratory disease inthe EU, you'd think the ban would have been introducedsooner - but better late than never, I say.

There are some 'dimwits' who would try to convince us that'passive smoking' is not so bad. I'm sure you've heard theargument: "When I was a kid, people smoked around me allthe time and it never did me a button of harm, bla de bla."

Just because it's true for them (they think) doesn't makeit true for the rest of us.

I recall some very uncomfortable journeys on the way up toPortrush with my five brothers and sisters squeezed intothe back of my Da's Morris Minor (they were also the daysbefore rear seatbelts had to be worn), gasping for air asboth parents smoked away, totally oblivious to the effecttheir smoke was having on us wee'uns.

Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 toxins, more than40 of which are known to cause cancer.

So, while one might think that 'passive smoking' is OK, thereality is that it may also be a 'ticking bomb' waiting togo off at any moment.

The latest statistics suggest that smoking-relatedillnesses are killing about 3,000 people every year inNorthern Ireland. That is nearly as many as died in theTroubles.

My brother-in-law was among them. A man in his mid-40s whodied last summer having been diagnosed with lung canceronly four weeks previously, he had no idea what he wascarrying around inside him - an extremely preventabledisease with potentially fatal consequences, and not justfor the individual smoker himself but also for those aroundhim.

Northern Ireland is about to become a 'cold house' forsmokers and I for one am very glad. Who knows, had it beenintroduced some years ago, how many of our loved-ones whodied as a result of smoking would still be here?

While we can't turn the clock back, we can play our part toensure that the ban is a success.

There are those diehards (mostly publicans and those whoenjoy nothing better than a pint and a fag) who will raiseall sorts of opposition to the ban coming in. Well,evidence from other places would suggest that the ban haslimited or no impact on the business life of bars andrestaurants.

There will be some who will no longer want to go out unlessthey can smoke in the pub, but so what?

No doubt there are many more who, at the moment, choose tostay in but would dearly love to have a drink or a meal insmoke-free environment.

Recently, I had the good fortune to visit Hong Kong andAustralia, both which are renowned for having a highproportion of smokers.

There the ban had already been in place for some months,yet I noticed no detrimental effect on the quality of theirnightlife.

The same can be said of Dublin and countless other places,but even if the opposite were true, at the end of the day,the health benefits to the nation would always outstrip anynegative impact on the entertainment sector.

For that reason the ban is here to stay, with other areasof the UK and across Europe to follow suit.

Tomorrow night I plan to go out for a few beers and nothave to put my clothes straight into the laundry bin.

Why don't you join me in raising a toast to a smoke-freeenvironment in which to unwind after a hard day's work?

April 28, 2007

Blair To Quit on May 10

DM 04/28/07 Blair To Quit On May 10IT 04/28/07 London Invite A Great Honour - AhernMN 04/28/07 UK/US Extradition Treaty RatifiedNW 04/27/07 Town Council Backs Lobby For 'Undocumented'BT 04/28/07 Opin: Looking To The Future, Not The PastNL 04/27/07 Opin: A Reality Of LifeIT 04/28/07 Opin: A Terrible BeautyIN 04/29/07 First Son Of The Royal Hospital Dies Aged 73IT 04/28/07 Eyre Square Nominated For Major AwardBT 04/29/07 500 Animals Found In Car

EXCLUSIVE: Finally.. we reveal the day when Blair will sayI'm leaving Downing St

By Rosa Prince Political Correspondent 28/04/2007

TONY Blair will announce he is standing down on May 10, theMirror has been told.

Senior sources say the Prime Minister has decided on thedate after intense discussions with his family, friends andkey advisers.

His announcement will trigger a seven-week leadership anddeputy leadership campaign.

Mr Blair will stay on until the results are known.

The PM had long been expected to bow out on May 9, when hewill return from Belfast having seen the restoration ofself-government in Northern Ireland - one of his greatestachievements.

But the Mirror has learned that he will hang on for onemore day so he can say an emotional farewell to ministersat the weekly Thursday Cabinet meeting. He will thenconfirm what he first revealed in September 2004 - he willnot see through a fourth term.

Speculation that Mr Blair would go earlier deepened afterit was suggested he would stand down on Tuesday - his 10thanniversary in office. His departure would then overshadowthe local, Scottish and Welsh elections. But the PM'sspokesman said: "The story is wrong."

Mr Blair, asked about it on a trip to Poland, said: "Youknow I never discuss these issues but I wouldn't hold yourbreath on that story."

He is planning a low-key celebration of his 10th year asPM, but has written a 22-page dossier of his achievementsfor his MPs. The PM says Labour has changed the country andproved there can be social justice and economic prosperityat the same time.

Chancellor Gordon Brown is expected to become the next PM.There are six contenders for the deputy's job.

Mr Brown is likely to face just one left-wing contenderbecause Michael Meacher and John McDonnell will reveal thisweekend that the candidate with the most supporters willmount a solo bid.

Barring a major political earthquake, Mr Brown will beinstalled at Number 10 by mid to late July.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said he is "greatly honoured" atthe invitation to address the joint houses of parliament atWestminster in London on May 15th, writes Miriam Donohoe,Political Staff

Mr Ahern, who is the first taoiseach to be afforded thishonour, said last night the invitation symbolises the newlevels of "friendship, mutual respect and understanding"between Ireland and Britain.

The invitation will be the third significant event duringthe general election campaign marking the advances in theNorthern peace process and the changed relationship betweenIreland and the UK.

On May 8th Mr Ahern and the British prime minister, TonyBlair, will attend the opening of the new Northern Irelandassembly while on May 11th he and DUP leader the Rev IanPaisley will visit the Battle of the Boyne site in CoMeath.

Speculation increased yesterday that Mr Ahern will call theelection between now and next Tuesday for a May 24th poll.Mr Ahern said the election would take place "shortly".

"The calling of it is just a technicality. People shouldn'tbe worrying about this. The election will be shortly.People can take that for certain. They shouldn't be gettingthemselves excited."

Meanwhile, the Quarryvale Two module of the Mahon tribunalinvestigating land rezoning in west Dublin is expected togo ahead as scheduled on Monday following the failure ofthe widow of the late TD Liam Lawlor, Mrs Hazel Lawlor, inher High Court action yesterday to prevent it fromproceeding.

One of the main witnesses, Tom Gilmartin, is due to begingiving his evidence on Tuesday. The Taoiseach is listed onthe tribunal website as among approximately 80 witnesseswho are listed to be called to give evidence from May 22nd.

The treaty will modernise and extend the arrangements forextradition between the US and the UK and for the firsttime allow for the extradition of individuals accused oftwenty-first century crimes, such as child internetpornography, which were not extraditable offences under theold arrangements.

(Media-Newswire.com) - The United Kingdom and United Stateshave today ratified a bilateral extradition treaty toensure more effective arrangements to bring offenders fromeither state to justice.

The treaty will modernise and extend the arrangements forextradition between the US and the UK and for the firsttime allow for the extradition of individuals accused oftwenty-first century crimes, such as child internetpornography, which were not extraditable offences under theold arrangements.

At a ceremony in Central London today the Instruments ofRatification were exchanged by Home Office MinisterBaroness Scotland and US Ambassador to the UK Mr Robert HTuttle. This enables the 2003 bilateral extradition treatyto enter into force under international treaty protocol.The treaty's new provisions include:

* Defining an extraditable offence as one punishable by a12 month or longer sentence in both states. This willreplace the list of extradition offences in the 1972treaty. Offences not on the 1972 list, for example childinternet pornography, will in future be classed asextraditable offences if they are punishable by a year ormore imprisonment in both states.

* Removing US statute of limitations issues. Extradition tothe UK could currently be barred if the offence is notprosecutable in the US due to the lapse of time since itwas committed. This will no longer be applicable toextraditions to the UK.

* Introducing a measure to allow for the temporarysurrender of persons serving a prison sentence in therequested state. Temporary surrender means the victim doesnot have to wait until the suspect has served his sentencein the US for justice to be done in the UK and vice versa.

* Permitting the waiver of the rule of speciality. Thiswill enable the prosecution of the extradited person for anoffence for which he was not extradited, providing thestate from which he was extradited consents.

The treaty, and the Extradition Act 2003, have alsoredressed the unequal balance that existed under the termsof the 1972 Treaty in which the UK required more from theUS than they asked of the UK. The US was required todemonstrate a prima facie evidential case in support ofextradition requests made to the UK, whereas the UK merelyhad to demonstrate 'probable cause'.

The 'probable cause' test is broadly comparable to therequirement for 'information which would justify the issueof a warrant for the arrest of a person' that the UK willnow require of the US.

Home Office Minister, Baroness Scotland, said:

"This Government is committed to ensuring that we rebalancethe criminal justice system in favour of victims and bringoffenders to book wherever they may be. The ratification ofthis treaty is a key example of how we are working with ourinternational partners to achieve these goals

"The ratification of this treaty will allow us to ensurethat criminals in hiding in the US, who have been wanted bythis country for some time, are returned here to facejustice.

"At the same time it will provide full and effectivesafeguards for the rights of requested persons from theUK."

US Ambassador, Robert Tuttle, said:

"I am very pleased that the United States and the UnitedKingdom have taken the steps to bring this important treatyinto force.

"The implementation of this treaty benefits both ourcountries. It's a practical measure that grows out of theexcellent law enforcement cooperation we share."

Notes to Editors:

1. The Treaty was signed on 31 March 2003 by then HomeSecretary David Blunkett and US Attorney General JohnAshcroft.

2. Certain provisions in the Treaty were given effect inthe UK by the entry into force of the Extradition Act 2003on 1 January 2004.

3. The 2003 Treaty was formally approved by the US Senateon 29 September 2006 and the US Treaty Approval Documentwas signed by President Bush on 6 December 2006.

4. The previous extradition arrangements between the US andthe UK were those in the 1972 Treaty, as amended by asupplementary Treaty in 1985.

MEMBERS of Letterkenny Town Council have added theirsupport for the undocumented Irish in America. The Councilhas agreed to write to the American Embassy in Dublinexpressing their support for the overhaul of US ImmigrationPolicy.

At Monday night's Town Council meeting Councillor GerryMcMonagle proposed the motion which received the unanimoussupport of his council colleagues. Cllr McMonagle said withover 50,000 undocumented Irish in America 'it was a massiveissue'.

Over 1,000 Donegal people took part in a rally in Dublin atthe weekend to highlight the plight of undocumented familymembers in the US, he said.

"I think it is vital that as a council we are seen to besupporting their cause. These people are paying their taxesand contributing to the American economy yet they arealways looking around their shoulder for fear of beingdeported. They can't attend funerals and at the weekend weheard of one man who was 18 years in the US when he wasdeported while travelling to his work one day," he said.

"These people are helping to build and maintain theAmerican economy and we must do all we can to support theIrish lobby for Immigration Reform," Cllr McMonagle added.

Cllr Dessie Larkin said the Donegal Association in New Yorkwas fully behind the lobby for reform and said as a localauthority the council could make its support known throughthe American Embassy.

"There are thousands of undocumented Donegal people incities like New York, Boston and Philadelphia and they livein fear every day of being deported. They're paying theirtaxes and contribute massively to the economy and are noton social welfare. We've all heard the stories about theirinability to return home," he said.

"The power to change this lies with Congress and with thesupport of people like Hilary Clinton hopefully the issuewill be sorted out," Cllr Larkin added.

Cllr Neil Clarke said it was imperative the matter wasaddressed while Cllr Ciaran Brogan said it was a veryemotional issue for families.

"This reform couldn't happen soon enough," he said.

However, Cllr Brogan acknowledged that Immigration Policyhad been stepped up significantly following the 9-11attacks.

The relatively muted reaction of the DUP to the nominationof Martina Anderson as a Sinn Fein representative on thePolicing Board is a sure sign that the political landscapein Northern Ireland is changing.

Where once there would have been fury and outrage, therewas merely disappointment and disquiet.

Without doubt, the inclusion of Ms Anderson's name is abitter pill to swallow for anyone who has been bereaved byIRA violence, particularly those in police families. Aformer prisoner who had been jailed for life after beingconvicted of conspiracy to cause explosions in England willnow be holding the Police Service to account.

Ironically, the conviction means that the Sinn FeinAssembly member would herself be ineligible to apply tojoin the police. But the fact that someone once sodedicated to terrorism should now be committing herself toan active role in the democratic process is surely a signof great hope.

Provided everything goes according to plan on May 8, therepublican movement will declare its support for the PoliceService and Sinn Fein will take its seats on the PolicingBoard. It is an event which many doubted if they would everwitness.

The new accord between the DUP and Sinn Fein has yet to befully tested in government, but the indications to date arepositive. Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness are unlikelypartners but their words and actions to date have set a newcontext for major political realignments.

It is against this background that Sinn Fein's move onpolicing should be set. The party's policing spokesman AlexMaskey - who took risks during his term as Lord Mayor ofBelfast - has pledged that they will treat everyone,including the police, on a fair basis. The party'srepresentatives deserve to be judged on their futureapproach, not on their previous convictions.

As Gregory Campbell of the DUP comments, it is time to moveon. The hope must be that once Sinn Fein fully endorses thePSNI, the climate on the streets will change and allsections of this community will enjoy a new era of law andorder.

Policing has always been a key issue in Northern Irelandand the focus must now be on reducing levels ofcriminality. Every police service operates best when itenjoys the support of the public and nobody should have anyqualms about giving information to the PSNI.

That said, it will take time for mindsets to change and forthose who have been brought up in an atmosphere ofhostility to the security forces to re-think theirattitudes.

But the fact that Sinn Fein is prepared to embrace the neworder is a major breakthrough. The DUP, too, deservescredit for its mature response to the latest developments.At last, all the parties are looking to the future, not thepast.

Remarkable political advances have been made in NorthernIreland over recent years,

but in some parts of the Province the population is veryheavily segregated along narrow unionist/loyalist andnationalist/republican lines.

The dark legacy of more than 30 years of the Troubleswhereby high walls divide communities from each other willnot be easily put in reverse, such is the level of fear anddistrust between people of differing political andreligious aspiration.

The housing segregation is most polarised in working classareas of Belfast and Londonderry and in estates in largertowns, like Portadown and Lurgan, and, quite apart from thehistoric sectarian dividing lines, there are still 46 wallsor fences and 11 gates that prevent any integration ofpeople from a different culture.

Of course, there are a great many small towns and villagesin Northern Ireland where unionists, nationalists andothers live happily alongside one another, as theirforebears have done for generations, without any sacrificeof the political and religious views which they hold.

These housing arrangements are harder to implement inlarger urban areas and there is also the difficulty thatpeople cannot be forced to live in areas where they do notwant to go.

Da st8 chief examiner sez dat da standard of English isdroppin cos "text messaging, with its use of phoneticspelling and little or no punctuation, seems to pose athreat to traditional conventions in writing". He sez datxam answers r 2 short cos "candidates seemed unduly relianton short sentences, simple tenses and a limitedvocabulary".

N response, da Assoc of Secondary Teachers in Irel& sez deris no need to panic, dat "rigidity or conformity withreceived standards is not the first port of call in judginga piece of writing or, indeed, speaking" & dat "languagechanges as the world changes: it cannot be set in aspic".

Fond memories: Francis Wisdom as a young boy andgrandfather. Mr Wisdom, a founder member of Donegal Celtic,with the Donegal Celtic Steel and Sons Cup West

Belfast correspondent Marie Louise McCrory speaks to thefamily of the first person born at the Royal MaternityHospital more than 70 years ago, who died just a shortdistance away this week

When Francis Wisdom was born he had no eyelashes orfingernails. A tiny premature baby, he had been so eager tojoin the world that his mother had to be rushed to the newRoyal Maternity Hospital on the Falls Road in west Belfastthe night before it was due to open.

Mary Alice Wisdom went into labour with her first child onAugust 1 1933 at the home she shared with husband Michaelat Dunmore Street, off the Springfield Road.

The Royal was the nearest hospital and Mrs Wisdom wasrushed into the brand new delivery suite.

A swift birth later and Francis was born into the world.

He was the only baby in the hospital and his tiny screamsfilled the corridors and later the ward where just he andhis mother cuddled up together on their own.

Francis - who became the oldest of 16 children - went on tohave four daughters and four sons of his own with his wifeEllen McCorry.

In 1959 he became a bus conductor and later a driver.

On Christmas Day 1973 Francis lost his wife following anillness and was left to continue bringing up his eightchildren alone.

Ten years later, he was invited to the Royal Maternity whenit celebrated its 50th anniversary.

As the first baby born there, he was guest of honour.

This week Francis - who had 13 grandchildren and sevengreat grandchildren - passed away at the Royal VictoriaHospital, just a short distance from where he was born 73years ago.

His children last night des-

cribed him as "a character".

"He was a founder member of the Donegal Celtic," hisdaughter Frances Morrow said.

"My dad was very straight and very witty. He was a greatstory-teller.

"Everybody took to him. He was very sharp and veryintelligent."

Her sister Ellen McGrady said her dad had loved to speakabout how he was the first baby born at the new RoyalMaternity.

"The hospital wasn't due to be officially opened until thefollowing day," she said.

"When he was born he had no eyelashes or fingernails. Heused to tell us about it.

"He always thought he was special. It was his claim tofame.

"He went along for the 50th anniversary of the RoyalMaternity in 1983 and he was so proud."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Victoria Hospital last nightexpressed sympathy to Mr Wisdom's family.

"We are saddened to hear about the death of Mr Wisdom andoffer our sincere condolences to his family,'' he said.

"Mr Wisdom was the first baby born in the Royal MaternityHospital when it opened its doors in 1933.

"He was also present at the unveiling of a plaque in 1983,marking 50 years of providing a maternity service to thepeople of Northern Ireland.

"Thousands of babies are now born at the hospital. Lastyear 5,296 babies were delivered at the Royal JubileeMaternity Hospital alone."Requiem Mass for Mr Wisdom will be celebrated at 10am todayat St Oliver Plunkett Church in Lenadoon, with burialafterwards in Milltown cemetery.

After all the hue and cry about its controversial face-lift, Eyre Square in Galway has now been nominated for theAcademy of Urbanism's Great Place award - in competitionwith Meeting House Square in Dublin's Temple Bar.

Eyre Square is described as the place "Galway was builtaround . . . given a new lease of life in the 21st century"in guidance notes circulated to academy members, whileMeeting House Square is described as "part of Temple Bar'ssequence of streets and spaces".

The other contenders are Brighton Beach; the South Bank,Exmouth Market and Duke of York Square in London; ExchangeSquare in Manchester; the Quayside in Newcastle; RoyalExchange Square in Glasgow; and the Winter Gardens inSheffield.

Two Irish towns - Armagh and Kilkenny - are in contentionfor the academy's Great Town award with Brecon, in Wales;Cheltenham, Huddersfield, Malmesbury and Winchester, inEngland; and Inveraray and St Andrews, in Scotland.

The main streets of Ireland's two largest cities -O'Connell Street, Dublin, and Donegall Place/Royal Avenue,Belfast - have been nominated for the Great Street award.Other contenders include Glasgow's Buchanan Street andLondon's Regent Street.

For the Great Neighbourhood award, Temple Bar has made thecut, but it's up against stiff competition fromCastlefields in Manchester, Soho and Shad Thames in London,Stockbridge in Edinburgh, and Rope Walks in Liverpool,among others.

The principal award, European City of the Year, will go toone of 10 contenders - Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin,Budapest, Graz, Helsinki, Istanbul, Lyon, Stockholm andTurin. Dublin made last year's shortlist, but lost out toEdinburgh.

St Stephen's Green was a finalist for the 2006 Great Placeaward, but it went to Borough Market in London.

The other winners last year were Ludlow (Great Town),Merchant City, Glasgow (Great Neighbourhood) and MaryleboneHigh Street, London (Great Street).

The 2007 nominees will be whittled down to three finalistsin each category at the academy's nominations dinner in theRoyal Hospital, Kilmainham, on May 24th.

Every shortlisted nominee with then be visited before thewinners are selected in November.

All will be judged by academy members on the basis of anumber of key criteria, including governance, localcharacter and distinctiveness, user friendliness,functionality, commercial success and viability, andenvironmental and social sustainability.

Formed in 2006, the Academy of Urbanism of Great Britainand Ireland brings together a group of thinkers andpractitioners involved in the social, cultural, economic,political and physical development of cities, towns andvillages throughout both islands.

The academy's theme, Space, Place, Life, is to be exploredat a conference in Dublin Castle on May 24th, jointlyorganised by the Urban Forum. Speakers will includearchitects Se n O'Laoire and Sir Terry Farrell, and Dublincity planner Dick Gleeson.

The conference will be preceded by a study tour of Belfast,to see its recent transformation by the "peace dividend",and will be followed by walking tours of Dublin city centreand the docklands area.

The USPCA was last night investigating a shocking incidentof animal cruelty after 500 animals were discovered in theback of a student's car in Coleraine.

The animals - including birds, hamsters, rabbits, guineapigs and a Chinese water dragon - were in boxes and cagesin the Renault Clio parked on Cromore Road yesterday.

No water had been left for them. The USPCA revealed 75 ofthe animals died of suspected heat stroke and dehydration.

While many of the survivors were taken to vets' surgeries,it is feared more may die.

The car owner, believed to be a male in his early 20s, wasspoken to at the scene by the PSNI.

It is understood he may have left the animals in the carfor six hours while at university and was planning to takethem to pet wholesalers in Co Donegal on Friday evening.

The alarm was raised after a member of the public noticed anumber of birds in the locked car acting in a distressedmanner.

Local officers arrived and, after the owner was located,the surviving animals were handed over to the USPCA.

Stephen Philpott, chief executive of the animal welfareorganisation, said: " I'm shocked at what was found in thecar in Coleraine and (recommend) that this man should bequestioned about animal cruelty.

"To leave these small animals in those conditions for oversix hours shows a total lack of regard for their welfare.

"Every year, we bring this sort of problem to the public'sattention - that temperatures in cars can soar, even on acloudy day. Every summer lots of pets, particularly dogs,lose their lives in cars and ignorance is not an excuse.

The Republic is on course for a change of government with theruling Fianna Fail party heading for a general election disasteras its vote continues to plummet, a new poll has suggested.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's party will now be bracing itself for theloss of up to 25 seats as its vote has fallen to 34%.

That is down 3% on the February figure. This is the thirdnational opinion poll in a week in which the Fianna Fail vote hasgone down, but the party remains the largest.

The support for Sinn Fein has edged up by 1% to a solid 10% ofthe overall vote.

Support for the largest opposition party, Fine Gael, hascontinued on the up.

It has soared to 31%, or a rise of 5% in just over two months.

Fine Gael now hovers just 3% behind Fianna Fail and will harbourrealistic hopes not only of heading the next government, but alsoof pushing further ahead and becoming the largest party.

If repeated on polling day, the figures mean that not only wouldFine Gael regain the 23 seats it lost in its calamitous 2002performance, but it would also gain several more seats.

The poll is a huge body-blow to Fianna Fail as Mr Ahern continuesto mull over the date of the general election. Carried out by TNSMRBI for the Irish Times, it shows that while Labour's vote isdown 1% to 10%, the Fine Gael-Labour axis could form a governmentwithout the support of the Greens.

Together, Fine Gael and Labour have 41%, four points ahead ofFianna Fail and their current coalition partners, the ProgressiveDemocrats who have a combined 37%.

If the Greens are added in with Fine Gael and Labour to form aRainbow, the three would have a 10% lead over the presentgovernment combination.

Former US President Bill Clinton has declined to back a campaignfor former Republican paramilitaries after being questioned by anex-INLA prisoner.

President Clinton was speaking at a $4,500-a-head fund-raiser forhis wife's presidential campaign at the New York home of actorGabriel Byrne.

After inviting questions from the crowd, one member of theaudience introduced himself as Malachy McAllister, who was jailedin the early 1980s for the attempted murder of an RUC officer.

McAllister, who has been fighting for years to stop hisdeportation back to Northern Ireland, asked what another Clintonpresidency could do for his campaign.

However, President Clinton side-stepped the question, talking offthe need to overcome sectarian divides and speaking at lengthabout the current situation in Rwanda.

"Is there anyone here from Rwanda?" he asked, to laughter fromthe almost exclusively Irish-American audience.

However, President Clinton suggested that Mr McAllister take hiscase to Senator Clinton's office.

Asked by a younger member of the audience what his wife'spresidency could do for young people, President Clinton said thatAmerica's first female president would make the fight againstglobal warming a priority, which would affect young people aroundthe world more than anyone else.

Senator Hillary Clinton was not at the event as she had to fly toSouth Carolina for the first debate among the eight Democraticpresidential candidates.

Byrne welcomed President Clinton to his four-storey Brownstonehome in an affluent area of Brooklyn.

The event was expected to earn over $$200,000 for SenatorClinton's presidential campaign.

President Clinton reminisced about his time in Northern Irelandwhile meeting the 200 guests.

Republicans cannot use policing as an excuse for violence intheir communities now that Sinn Fein has appointed members to thepolicing board, Senator John McCain has said just hours before heis due to officially announce his candidacy for the USpresidency.

Speaking at the annual Cooperation Ireland dinner in New Yorkthis week, Senator McCain was reacting to Sinn Fein'sannouncement that it is to appoint three people, including an ex-IRA bomber, to the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

Mr McCain gave his "hearty congratulations" to Sinn Fein and theDUP on the new Northern Ireland Government - and especiallywelcomed Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness' joint letter ofcongratulations to the Ireland cricket team as one of their firstofficial acts together.

Senator McCain noted that Sinn Fein has now made its firstappointments to the policing board.

"In the past, the character of the police was used as an excuseby some who wished to engage in extra-judicial activities,actions that rent the fabric of society. That excuse is gone," hesaid to applause from the audience.

"Violence, crimes and threats have no place in the NorthernIreland of today or tomorrow," he added.

Senator McCain made his comments two years after lambasting theSinn Fein and IRA leadership in front of Gerry Adams at a similarblack tie event in Washington.

Incoming Stormont Minister Ian Paisley jnr wanted to see writtenevidence that Raymond McCord had been rejected as Victims'Commissioner because he didn't know enough about the Troubles -and here's the proof he asked for.

A letter sent by officials to Mr McCord last month said theBelfast campaigner - whose son was murdered by the UVF and washimself severely assaulted by the UDA - had not shown "anawareness of the consequences of the conflict" in hisapplication.

Earlier this week Ian Paisley jnr told the BBC's Nolan programmethat he would be very interested in "seeing if that was actuallysaid".

He added: "I mean, if he has that in writing I will be certainlyinterested in that."

Told about the letter yesterday, Mr Paisley - who could have arole in the final appointment of the new Commissioner next month- said the rejection had been "very badly and stupidly handled".

The DUP MLA, who will be the junior minister in the FirstMinister's office which sent out the letter, said: "It's apathetic way to treat a victim.

"People have to get in touch with the community if they're goingto deal with the needs of victims."

The letter could be a key part of potential court action over therejection.

Mr McCord, who was in Strasbourg this week telling MEPs about hisson's murder, is currently taking legal advice.

The campaigner decided to apply for the post in January, afteryears of work about his son's murder led to the PoliceOmbudsman's devastating report on UVF collusion.

But he was turned down without an interview.

In the letter, an official in the Office of the First Ministerand Deputy First Minister said Mr McCord had been rejected for"failing to provide enough evidence" in relation to four criteriafor the œ65,000-a-year post.

The letter indicated that the first hurdle he fell at was inbeing able to demonstrate "an awareness of the consequences ofthe conflict in Northern Ireland or similar situationselsewhere".

He was also rejected because he did not show "a high standard oforal, written and presentation skills", an "ability to workeffectively with the media" and experience of office management.

A public relations professional has described Mr McCord's mediaskills as " excellent".

The assessment panel, which included one independent member,decided Mr McCord had come up to standard in three areas -commitment to promoting the interests of victims, an ability towork with victims from different sections of the community, andan ability to empathise with victims.

Mr McCord said: "I'm not saying I'm the best person for the job,but I thought the reasons they gave were ludicrous.

"My son was murdered by the UVF, I've been threatened by thatorganisation for daring to ask questions about the murder, andI've been left for dead by the UDA - but I'm not aware of theconflict?"

The First Minister's Office said it could not comment onindividual applications.

A total of 46 people applied for the Victims' Commissioner jobwhen it was advertised in January.

Thirteen people have been interviewed, but no appointment hasbeen announced. First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy FirstMinister Martin McGuinness will have to agree the appointmentafter they are confirmed in their jobs on May 8.

The Progressive Unionist Party are to hold talks with the policeservice in relation to dissident republican activity.

Party leader Dawn Purvis will lead a delegation to meet PSNIChief Constable Sir Hugh Orde in Belfast.

It comes after Sir Hugh told the BBC he believed a forthcomingstatement from the Ulster Volunteer Force on its intentions wouldnot go far enough.

The Progressive Unionist Party is aligned with the paramilitaryUVF.

Speaking ahead of Friday's meeting, Ms Purvis said: "The purposeof this discussion is to get an assessment from the chiefconstable and his top team on dissident republican activity.

"It is important that our new assembly is given the best possiblestart and that nothing is allowed to destabilise that, thereforeit will be helpful to hear from the chief constable his plans todeal effectively with dissident republicans."

The incoming Sinn Fein Education Minister has pledged her supportfor the continued growth of Irish language schools and integratededucation - despite the Assembly facing the prospect of massschool closures.

Caitriona Ruane has spoken out in advance of attending afundraising event at an Irish-medium nursery school inDownpatrick tonight.

The Minister will have to juggle her aim along with multipleschool closures and amalgamations due to be implemented as aresult of a dramatic decline in the school aged population.

It is also likely to lead her onto a collision course with theEducation Committee chairman Sammy Wilson - who has been stronglycritical of expansion of the two growing minority school sectorsat a time when pupil numbers are falling.

Ms Ruane told the Belfast Telegraph: "One of the challengesfacing me as future Minister for Education will be to takeforward the idea of sharing within and between schools. Irish-medium schools offer a valuable educational environment.

"I want to support parental choice and to continue to developboth the Irish-medium and integrated sectors.

"As with other sectors it is also important that the Irish-mediumsector challenges itself by listening to others and discussingpossible future opportunities."

Among the items under the hammer at tonight's event are singlemalt whiskey - one a limited edition to commemorate John Hume'sreceipt of the Nobel Prize, and another similar bottle tocommemorate Mary McAleese's election as President of Ireland.There will also be a football and a Down jersey, both signed byall the Down All-Ireland winning captains, which will bepresented to the buyer by Down Gaelic football legend PaddyDoherty.

Other lots are a Bobby Sands biography signed by the survivinghunger strikers, a copy of the Belfast Agreement with John Hume'ssignature, a flight from Newtownards airport over Downpatrick andLecale, two nights' bed and breakfast and dinner for two in theSlieve Russell Hotel and a Manchester United shirt signed byDiego Forlan and Ruud van Nistlerooy.

The school is a recognised charity and the money raised in theauction will be used to sustain and develop Irish-medium pre-school education in the Downpatrick district.

The night begins at 7.30pm and the auction starts at 9.30pm. Thecost is œ25 for dinner (including wine), the auction andentertainment. Or just œ5 to attend the auction and entertainmentonly. Anyone interested in attending the event can telephoneP draig Mac Thiarn in on (028) 44613709 or mobile 07712 667518.

A moratorium should be placed on key financial decisionsaffecting NI until devolution is imposed on 8 May, Sinn Fein'sMitchel McLaughlin has said.

Mr McLaughlin, chair of the assembly's finance committee, saidimportant decisions were being taken by the NIO.

He said appointments had been made and a shortlist for a œ500mcontract known as Workplace 2010 had been drawn up.

A NIO statement said the main decision on the scope and contentof the contract would be up to the assembly.

"Workplace 2010 is in the middle of a commercial process and thatprocess is continuing. However, the main decision on the scopeand content of the contracts will be for the new Stormontadministration to make," it said.

However, Mr McLaughlin said he could not understand why suchimportant decisions were being taken by direct rule ministers.

"It has been reported that direct rule minister David Hanson hastaken a decision to shortlist two of the four parties bidding forthe huge œ500m Workplace 2010 contract two weeks prior to theestablishment of the executive and political institutions," hesaid.

"I cannot understand why direct rule ministers are currentlyannouncing decisions that will impact on the discharge of localministers' responsibilities when a local administration is aboutto be restored in less than two weeks."

A DUP assembly member has defended a band named in honour of aUVF man killed by his own bomb by comparing them to GAA clubsnamed after republicans.

Adrian McQuillan was responding to claims by SDLP assembly memberJohn Dallat who said a parade to be held in Coleraine tonight -led by the Freeman Memorial Band - would "desecrate" the towncentre.

Robert Freeman one of four UVF men killed priming a bomb boundfor a Catholic owned restaurant in 1975.

More than 1,500 marchers and 68 bands are expected to attend thethree-hour parade.

Mr Dallat said the timing of the march - only weeks after thePSNI informed more than 100 people that their names were on aloyalist list and days after the IMC said loyalist paramilitarieswere still involved in criminality - was inappropriate.

But Mr McQuillan said the parade should not be seen ascontentious.

"It has been going for more than 20 years and the ParadesCommission has not voiced any concerns," he said.

"It is very funny to hear concerns over the name of the band whenthere are any number of GAA clubs in the area named afterrepublicans."

An Ulster student has described how she survived the horror ofthe Virginia Tech massacre - by a split second.

Speaking exclusively to the Belfast Telegraph, 23-year-old KarenScott from Coleraine revealed that, at the time of the killings,she called into her office to pick up a book rather than visitill-fated Norris Hall where most of the students and staff weregunned down last Monday.

The PhD engineering student, who graduated from Queen'sUniversity Belfast last year with a masters degree inaeronautical engineering, waited out the ordeal in her office,just metres away from Norris Hall.

Karen recalled how she phoned her mother in Northern Irelandafter gunman Cho Seung-Hui carried out the first two killings,two hours before he stepped up his crazed attack.

"Within minutes, town, county and state police were situatedright outside, closely followed by SWAT teams and K-9 units.

"We were then informed that a gunman was loose on campus and thatwe must remain inside."

Karen said things happened so quickly that she did not have timeto get frightened and her sense of security was enhanced by theteams of SWAT police outside.

"Had there not been a presence outside my door, I might have beena little more fearful," said Karen.

And she added: "I have, of course, seen armed police from when Ilived in Northern Ireland but I have never seen anything like thearrival of the SWAT team - there were so many of them and theywere heavily armed."

When Karen was eventually evacuated, she saw people coming out ofNorris Hall with their hands held in the air.

This was because the police did not know that the gunman wasdead, and had to remain suspicious of everyone, she said.

The average price paid for a house in Ireland in March was ?2,007below the February figure, according to the latest edition of thepermanent tsb / ESRI House Price Index.

The fall reflects a decline in national prices of 0.6% in March -the first reduction in national house prices since January 2002,when prices declined by 0.9%.

The average price paid for a house nationally in March 2007 was?309,071, compared with ?310,632 in December 2006.

Over the first quarter of the year (January to March inclusive)prices nationally decreased by 0.5%, compared to growth of 3.5%in the same period last year.

However, the average price paid for a house in March this yearwas still 7.4% higher than the average price paid in March lastyear. This was a lower increase than the 9.5% difference innational prices which occurred between February 2006 and February2007.

Head of marketing with permanent tsb Niall O'Grady said: "Thereduction in average national house prices in March has beenreflected in all market sectors with the exception of Dublin andhouses bought by first-time buyers.

Towns, both large and small, and villages are the fastest growingcentres of population in Ireland. Proportionately, fewer peopleare living in cities, according to census data published by theCentral Statistics Office.

Galway is the State's fastest growing city, while the numbersliving in Limerick and Cork are actually declining.

The five major cities, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway andWaterford are losing population share; they grew at only half therate of the entire country between 2002 and 2006.

Galway, with a population growth of almost 10 per cent, is theonly city growing faster than the national average of 8.2 percent.

Overall, the population share of the five cities fell from 35.5per cent to 34.2 per cent, and less than one-fifth of overallpopulation growth took place there.

By contrast, the number of large towns (those with a populationof 10,000 or over) increased from 28 per cent to 34 per centsince the 2002 census. Arklow, Ballina, Midleton, Cobh, Wicklowand Mallow are now classified as large towns.

Swords in north Co Dublin showed the highest growth with 6,823moving into the area, while Balbriggan grew by more than 50 percent, the highest percentage growth.

Dublin has the highest population density, while Co Leitrim stillhas the most open space with the fewest people per squarekilometre.

Smaller towns, with a population of 1,500 to 9,999, grew in sizeby one-fifth, as did villages.

The Irish Planning Institute (IPI) said the figures showed thatmany small villages were at risk either from depopulation orover-growth.

"It seems that small settlements are either losing population tosuch an extent that their future is at risk or are overwhelmed bypopulation growth, resulting in the risk of becoming commutertowns," said IPI president Henk van der Kamp.

"Either scenario is undesirable, and better planning policiesmust be put in place to avoid these problems and to ensurebalanced development of settlements in both rural and urbanareas."

Meanwhile, the population of the Gaeltacht fell to 92,777 in theperiod, the CSO figures also show.

Most of the fall is accounted for by a decrease of over 2,000 inthe most populous Gaeltacht area, Galway city and county. Onlythe Mayo breac-Gaeltacht recorded a marginal increase of fewerthan 100, to a population of 10,947.

The population of most offshore islands is also in decline.

While the numbers living on the most populous island, Achill,remained static at 2,620, there were falls in population on Bere,Clear and Sherkin islands off Co Cork, Arranmore and Tory islandsoff Co Donegal, the three Aran islands off Co Galway, andInishbiggle and Inishturk off Co Mayo.

However, Inishbofin off Co Galway and Clare Island off Co Mayobucked the trend with small increases in population.

The case of the man who was wrongly declared dead in the Materhospital in Dublin earlier this month is rare but not unique, acity undertaker has said.

Yesterday's Irish Timesreported that the Mater was carrying outan investigation into how a man in his 30s, who was declared deadby staff, was subsequently found to be alive when mortuarypersonnel came to collect his body on Easter Sunday.

Keith Massey, of Rom Massey & Sons Ltd, said his father, Rom,experienced a similar case in the 1960s. When he went to collectthe body of a man from a Dublin hospital, he could not find it,he said.

It emerged that when the man was being moved to another hospitalfor post-mortem, he revived. Death notices had appeared in thenewspapers for him, but he went on to live for another 10 years.

Mr Massey said if a person was buried alive, the chances are theywould die of asphyxia before they realised what had happened."Human nature being what it is, it is bound to happen now andagain," he said. "Looking at the trade journals, there areoccasional reports of people waking up."

He said he heard of a case in Yorkshire in the 1990s when awoman, who suffered from a rare form of epilepsy, ended up in amortuary on two occasions. The condition resulted in her bodyappearing to shut down. She went stone cold and had only a veryfaint pulse, which went undetected.

"She was lucky she wasn't put in a fridge in either of themortuaries or she would have died of hypothermia," he said.

Undertakers are obliged to carry out a series of basic tests oncethey receive a body, including putting a hand over the person'smouth to check for breathing, putting a mirror to a person'smouth, searching for a pulse and checking for chest sounds.

"Sometimes we get asked to put a mobile phone in a coffin so thatthe person can call if they wake up," Mr Massey said. "Werecommend embalming. This plasticises the body and once you'reembalmed you're gone. To embalm, we cut open an artery - thereshould be a trickle of blood, but if it pumped out we would stopeverything. We embalm in four out of five cases."

He added that the mistake made in the Mater hospital mightreflect the amount of pressure doctors are under," he said. "Itis not like forgetting to deliver a piano. In this business, oneerror has a huge impact."

Multi-millionaire dancer Michael Flatley and his wife Niamh arecelebrating the birth of their first child, a boy, at CorkUniversity Maternity Hospital.

The baby weighed 8 lb 1 oz when born by Caesarean section afterNiamh was brought to the new hospital late on Wednesday nightfrom the family home at Castlehyde, near Fermoy in north Cork.

At the hospital yesterday afternoon, Flatley was clearly thrilledwith the new arrival but was remaining tight-lipped about a name.He said he would be happy with whatever his wife chose.

"Somebody just asked me if this is the best feeling I've had - Idon't remember any other feelings right now except this one. It'sremarkable and the first time I held my child, I don't think I'llever forget that as long as I live.

"We are overjoyed, both mum and baby are doing well. I cannotwait to get Niamh and our baby son home to Castlehyde. We wouldlike to thank Prof John Higgins and all the wonderful staff atthe hospital".

Michael (48) who is from Chicago and Niamh (32), from Kilbride,Co Meath, were married last October at St Patrick's Church inFermoy with some 250 guests later celebrating the wedding atCastlehyde.

In November, Flatley was struck down by a serious but non-threatening viral infection that forced him to cancel all datesof his Celtic Tiger European tour and he spent a week in a Londonhospital.

Flatley first came to prominence in Riverdance at Eurovision in1994 but has since gone on to stage a series of highly successfuldance shows such as Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames.

Flatley is worth an estimated ?500 million plus and has homes inBarbados, Chicago, France and London as well as Castlehyde, whichhe bought in 1999 and on which he spent several million euro forrefurbishment.

DUBLIN President Mary McAleese is to make a five-day visit tothe United States next week to strengthen links with the Irishcommunity and to promote trade and cultural links, her officesaid yesterday.

Her programme will begin on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia, where shewill meet state Governor Sonny Perdue and the Irish-Americancommunity before departing for Syracuse, New York. The presidentwill call on New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg beforereturning to Dublin on May 5.